Obituary of Frances Burnham

Frances Burnham ScotiaFrances Nellie (Pauley) Burnham, 83, born July 28, 1930, passed away peacefully in the presence and care of her husband of 57 years, Harold Ernest Burnham, and her loving family, in her home in Scotia, NY on September 23, 2013. Frances (Fran), born in her aunt and uncle's old farmhouse in the village of West Rupert (Kent Hollow), Vermont during a family visit, was the first of five daughters born to Esther Margarita (Rodriguez) Pauley and Elmer Lewis Pauley. Fran and her husband raised their two sons, David Harold Burnham, and his wife, Jamie of Delanson, and Bryan Harold Burnham of Middlegrove, on Baldwin Road in Scotia. Fran was raised on the historic Baldwin family farm in Scotia with her maternal grandparents and attended Thomas Corners School where she made many lifelong friends. She was active in St. Joseph's Church where she assisted in the rectory and served as substitute Sunday school teacher, later joining the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Glenville. Fran worked for the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. from 1948 to 1952 as a confidential secretary, spending her free time enjoying USO dances. She then returned home and worked at the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and General Electric until she left the workplace to raise her sons. Since early childhood, Fran possessed a passion for dance; a promising career was, unfortunately, cut short by a back injury she sustained just prior to returning from Washington, D.C. Nonetheless, aside from teaching and performing dance, Fran's creative endeavors included painting in oil and watercolor, singing, embroidering, and quilting (she created a Tree of Life quilt for the Right to Life Foundation). She enjoyed journaling and writing short stories and articles featuring family-related topics for numerous publications, including Good Old Days, Looking Back, Mohawk Valley, USA and the Right to Life Newsletter. Frances spent countless hours researching generations of family history, gathering photographs, and authoring historical accounts of her and her husband's ancestry that are now family treasures. Fran, Harold and their sons enjoyed holidays and camping with extended family, and together hosted children from the Fresh Air Fund for 16 consecutive summers. Until recently, Fran and Harold continued to host family gatherings that included Fran's shared family lore and traditional farm-style dinners. Fran is also survived by three sisters, Joan Bonafede, Marlene Burnham, and Linda Pauley, all of Schenectady, NY. She was predeceased by her sister, Joyce Ure of Ocala, Florida. In addition, she is survived by 11 nieces and nephews; and seven grandnieces and nephews; and her brother-in-law, Alonzo (Al) Burnham, and his wife, Lois. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Frances' memory at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Saratoga Road, Glenville on Friday, September 27, at 11 a.m. Calling hours will be held at the Glenville Funeral Home on Thursday, September 26 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Interment in Park Cemetery, Scotia. Donations in Frances' memory may be made to the New York State Right to Life Committee, 41 State Street, Suite M-100, Albany, NY 12207 or online at http://www.nysrighttolife.org/donate or to The Community Hospice of Schenectady at the Community Hospice Foundation, 1411 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12308. Glenvillefuneralhome.com